MORONI 9

Family and Friends, ALOHA!!!

WOW, WHAT A WEEK!! Ah, I'm getting excited just thinking about all the miracles I'll be able to share with you today!

* The woman I spoke of a couple of weeks ago who came onto my tram bus from the PCC to the VC last December was baptized on Saturday and confirmed yesterday!!! YAYYY!!

Miracle#1 

Okay, I have to let the world know, I LOVE my companion, Sister or Cecpta Eaton. She has been such a huge blessing in this missionary work. She is so full of faith and a willingness to do whatever the Lord asks her to do. Ah, its great! LOVE her. That being said, during our district meeting, our new district leader Elder Dzaemen challenged us to to go through our area book and go contact every potential investigator by the end of the week. I know that it was SO inspired. Sister Eaton and I grabbed the area book, looked at the potentials and got going! We visited a couple of houses where families were busy or simply not interested, but still willing to "talk story" with us. So we went forward with the next name on our list. Ryan. We knock on the door, and a boy about 11 years-old answers the door, but it's not Ryan. We introduced ourselves and then I asked if he had been baptized yet, with the response of, "No." Woot Woot!!  

Sister Eaton and I asked him if he had faith in Jesus Christ and God, and he let us know that he did not. We asked him why he thought it would be important to have faith in God. He said, "To help us."  I then asked what he could use help with in his life, and he began opening up to us telling us about how he needs help wit his schooling. I explained to him how much Heavenly Father has helped me in my schooling, and how I ALWAYS needed help when I was in school. I told him that it wasn't until I asked for help from Heavenly Father that I was able to learn faster, work harder, and do MUCH better in school. We could see he really liked that as a smile appeared on his face. We asked him if he would pray for help with school, and he said he would! We then taught him to pray and asked him that if he prayed and knew that what we were teaching him was true, if he would be baptized... and he said yes!! Ah, it was awesome. We were worried because we still needed to get permission from his aunty, but she said we could teach him when we returned to visit yesterday!!

Miracle#2 

So we were still on our search for new investigators, but it was getting pretty dark and almost time to head back. We had two more houses left on our list, one of them having all the lights out, in Hawaii meaning no one is home, and then the next house we could see a light coming from the door inside the garage. We didn't think that was the part of the house we were looking for (it was an Ohana...meaning, a house with more than one family living in it), but we both decided, HEY, why not???  We knock on the door, and a guy about in his 30's comes out, SUPER nice, and SO Hawaiian, haha. He said that basically his whole family are members but just never had been taught about the gospel. He was born and raised in Laie, but had left for a little while, just returning a couple of weeks ago! PERFECT! We asked if he would be interested in learning about how it could bless his life and he said, "Sure! Why not??" Hah, it was perfect. Oh did I mention he has a non-member girl friend, too?? It was such a blessing, and we cannot wait to teach them this week!

Miracle#3 

Did I mention my companion is the coolest person ever? So, our dinner appointment totally forgot one night, and was actually in California. SO needless to say, we did not have a dinner that night. We, along with another companionship decided to order pizza from Dominoes, because our amazing member owns it and will give us free pizza whenever we need it. She's amazing. So Sister Eaton and I go outside of the VC through a set of doors that leads into this tunnel of pillars to make the phone call for a delivery. BUT the phone would not call!! We tried and tried and tried. It just would not call Dominoes. Finally, Sister Eaton told me to try leaving the tunnel and walk out by the grounds a little bit and try calling out there.

Where I found the woman from Russian

So I do, and when I go out I see a woman walking by. I asked her where she was from and she said, "Russia!" I excitedly said, "Wow, Russia??!" As Sister Eaton comes around the corner. It couldn't have been more perfect. They were headed away from the VC, but if our dinner did not canceled, and if the phone HAD worked, and my companion wasn't so inspired to see if it was the tunnel, we would not have met this RUSSIAN couple. We eventually took them on a tour into the VC (me just standing there smiling), but the spirit was SO strong!! They still spoke some English, so I was able to bare my testimony as well. Unfortunately they said they would like to take the guest card with them and fill it out and return it...which usually means we won't see it again, but I KNOW they felt the spirit. And I know that when the time is right, they will accept the gospel.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this gospel. It is SO true!!! I know without a doubt that the knowledge I have of Jesus Christ and His church that has been restored upon the earth today ARE true! I know that man is not perfect, but God is. I know that God is a God of miracles (Moroni 9), and as we are willing to put our trust in Him, and go to Him in faith, He will help us. He will help us to learn, to grow, to perfect. All these things for our happiness...even our eternal happiness. I invite you all to pray, pray to feel of Heavenly Father's love. Let it lift you up and inspire you to do better and be better than yesterday! Love you all so much! Thank you for your continual prayers!!!

Love Always,
Cecpta Moyes

TRUTH IN ALL THINGS

(August 27th Letter)

Family and Friends, ALohhHA!

I cannot even believe that the time has already come for yet another transfer...my last transfer =/. Words cannot begin to express my gratitude for Heavenly Father for allowing me to come and serve Him here in Hawaii. It's been the greatest blessing of my life thus far, and I know that it would not have been possible without all your prayers. So thank you.

TRANSFER NEWS

My very last companion of my mission who will be "killing" me is the amazing, BEAUTIFUL, kind, and RUSSIAN, Sister Eaton!! Ahh, I do not know why I have been so blessed, but I am so grateful. Sister Eaton and I have been praying all transfer that we would get to be together, and here we are!! So exciting!

Housekeeping Business:

* We will be whitewashing the Laie 5th and Laie 8th ward

* So, because we are schedules require us to spend half the day in the VC and half day in our areas, there is always a period of time that no one is in the area. They have now assigned two wards  (for me, L5 and L8) to two sets of Sisters. Two companionships with opposite shifts at the VC are covering two wards, that way, there will always be a set of Sisters in the area! Some wards are busier than others, baptizing-wise, so this way, not only are there sisters always in the area but we will be busier baptizing!!

* I will be living in the same apartment, yay! No moving =)

* My P-days for the rest of my mission will be on MONDAY!

LITTLE MIRACLES:

* Gave a tour to a family from Quebec, Canada =) 

* Our L3 ward youth have consistently been bringing their non-member friend to church!!

* We met with a less-active that we have been trying to contact for the past 3 months...AND she let us in!!

Miracle #1 

Part 1: So one day during shift at the VC, a young Filipino woman came in with a guy, both about the same age. Sister Bradley and I went to greet them when they informed us that they were just waiting for their appointment with the Elders. I got a little excited, and asked her if she was going to be baptized soon!!!...I get a little enthusiastic sometimes. She gave a half smile, and then just said, "I don't know. We haven't talked about it yet." I then asked her how she was introduced to the Elders, and she said that her co-worker (the guy with her), had introduced her to the church! WAY TO GO MEMBER MISSIONARIES!! She then excitedly told us that she is starting to read The Book of Mormon to learn more, as she lifted it up to show us. I had forgotten that I said this, but I promised her that if she said a prayer every time she readsThe Book of Mormon she will know it is true. This time her face lit up. You could just see that she yearned for truth! Well, it has been no coincidence that every time she comes in for an appointment with the Elders I am on shift and I get to share my testimony with her.

Meeting Elder Moreno from Distri

Part 2: Well, just last night she came in and I immediately came up to her and gave a her a big hug! She had The Book of Mormon in her hand so I asked her where her finger was holding the place and it was in 3 Nephi! The second she said that, Sister Bradley and I both excitedly say, "AH! THAT'S THE BEST PART!" Haha, I then explained to her that when I read 3 Nephi, that's when I knew that The Book of Mormon was true. Her eyes were wide open, said, "Really?" I smiled and nodded my head. She then expressed to us that that is exactly what she had been praying to know right now...if this was true, and that every time she grabbed her Book of Mormon, she kept opening it to 3 Nephi! She then said, "Well, I better start reading this then!" We left her as she read. When the Elders came in, I informed them of what had happened. They had big smiles on their faces and went ahead in teaching her. (Sorry this is long)

Well, after her appointment with the Elders she came out into the Christus room and had a HUGE smile on her face. I asked how the lesson went, and she said that the Elders found the most amazing scripture that when she read it, she KNEW that God knew her and was answering her prayers. She said that she felt goosebumps and calm inside.  I testified to her that this was the Holy Ghost by then showing her Moroni 10:4-5. She said that the Elders set a baptismal date for the 21st of September, and was unsure, but now she cannot even wait.She looked at me and said, I know this is true! It was one of those moments you cannot forget. I told her that I, and many others will be there at her baptism to support her, and she was so happyyyy! It was amazing.

Miracle #2: 

Our amaxing Ward Missionary in our YSA Ward

Many other miracles happened this week, including the baptism we attended of a young guy who we had previously taken on a tour in the VC. We were able to commit him to sticking with his baptismal date, because he was still a little unsure, but he took that leap of faith. Rarely will we see the fruits of our labors, so it was amazing to see him enter into the waters of baptism.

I know that this gospel is true. I know that there are so many hearts being prepared for us as members to bring to the missionaries. Let us pray daily for those opportunities. Yes, that means we need to be more prepared ourselves, it means we will have to have courage to be bold, to open our mouths. But, as we live our lives having the spirit with us, the Spirit WILL work through us. "And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things." He will testify what we say is true. I love you all so much, and cannot wait to share the miracles of this next transfer.

Love you,

Sister Moyes

FIA AI !

Friends, Family, Cousins, ALOHA!

Yes, this is me =) Some things never change, haha

I first want to start off by saying that I KNOW that The Book of Mormon to be the word of God. Sister Bradley gave me the challenge when we started as companions to read The Book of Mormon again on my mission before I go home. Well, I would feel that I was being ungrateful if I did not express how much this book has blessed my life. It truly is for our day! These Prophets of Old are truly inspired of God, and they have taught me so much. I love the spirit that I am able to feel when reading it's pages, and love how my understandings of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father have grown so much. When I read this book, I am able to feel strength to keep going when it is hard, I am able to feel courage when times might get scary. I know that this book is the word of God, and that just as Joseph Smith promised, that all who read it will grow nearer to God than by reading any other book. Feast upon the words of Christ, because you will be filled with the love of God. Ah, I just love it.

Alright, so for MIRACLES!

Miracle#1-2: 

So a couple weeks ago Sister Bradley and I were asked to speak in Sacrament meeting about Hastening the work of Salvation: missionary work ! I was pretty excited. Sunday comes and we sit up in the stands as speakers, and who is assigned #1 for passing the sacrament...?? Anthony! Ahhh, it was the best! After administrating the sacrament to the Bishopric, he then walks up to where we are sitting as is able to pass it to us. I just looked at him and smiled uncontrollably. He has become our little buddy, and Sister Bradley and I are so proud of him and the progress he is making!! 

Aunty Charlie!

Part 2: Sister Bradley had invited a non-member (potential investigator) to come to church and listen to us speak that Sunday (Aunty Charlie). We were sitting up in the stands watching out for Aunty Charlie, but no sign of her. When it had already been 15 minutes after the meeting started we frantically moved our eyes from row to row looking for her when she and her friend came walking in!!! SUCH a miracle. She has lived in our area for over 20 years, and this was her first time going to this church. After sacrament meeting we get down from the stands and go to give her big hugs. Well, as we go to do so, a couple of sisters beat us to it!! She knew SO many people there; one of them being Na'ili. Na'ili gave her the biggest hug in the world! Turns out Na'ili was Aunty Charlie's husband's caretaker before he passed away! It could not have been more perfect. Now we know all of the many members who can be there to fellowship her.

Dinner with the Freis

Miracle#3 

I love Samoans! Alright, so Sunday shift at the VC, a member from the Kahuku ward comes in with his non-member friend visiting from Samoa...SEKIA (legit). It was so fun getting to hear Samoan again, although my ability to communicate in return is not so good, but he loved that I understood a little of what he was saying. So Sister Bradley and I taught him a little bit of the Restoration emphasizing the priesthood authority that allows us to perform the ordinances in the temple. He LOVED the temple, and loved that it is everything that is talked about in the Bible. At the end of the tour we asked him that if he prayed to know that these things were true, would he be baptized by the priesthood authority of God....AND HE SAID YES!!! SOOOO amazing. I love Samoans; so receptive to the gospel. Well, the member that was with him asked if we had any fluent fa'asamoa speakers, but Sister Toleafoa was not on shift. We called the Elders who cover the Hau'ula Samoan ward and they came right over. They shared more about the Book of Mormon with him, he said he would read it, and really wanted it to be true!! It wasn't until after the Elders taught him that I found out that he actually used to be a preacher in Samoa. This gospel is true =)

Miracle #4 

When I was set apart to be missionary and representative of Jesus Christ, I received a very special blessing; one that has given me strength and hope on my mission. A line that has stuck with me was that my experiences from traveling throughout my life will be a blessing in many aspects of my mission. I have seen this blessing come to life throughout my whole mission. Well an example of this blessing happened this week. Sister Bradley and I were planning and setting goals for the next day (a day on tram at the PCC) and we said 3 new investigators, but then I paused and said that I thought we should change it to 5. It was a really neat experience, just feeling like there were still more people being prepared for us. Well, the next day of taking the tram tours at the PCC comes and we had tours the whole time, but no one asked to have missionaries teach them.

Presenting your tram tour guides =)

Finally, our second to last tram one of the sisters sees a huge group over by the tram sign (which misleadingly is not where the tram bus comes). She asked if I had spoken with them, which I had not. So I walked over to this big group and noticed they were taking pictures and offered to help. As I did I got to know them a little bit, asking them where they were from! They were of course from NEW JERSEY!!! I excitedly told them that I had lived there, in a town called Roxbury. It was so cool because they knew EXACTLY where that was, and we all clicked very fast. It was a large family with cousins, aunts and uncles, it was so fun. After talking with them I invited them to come ride the tram in just a couple of minutes. The way they responded made it seem like they weren't interested, but I was happy I invited them. Sister Bradley and I continue inviting people to join and lo and behold, the whole family gets on to the bus!!!! I was so excited!! The whole bus was full with others as well as this family. Sister Bradley and I divided and conquered when we got to the VC and were able to speak to various people of this family where the spirit was so strong! After the tour gets back to the PCC and we ask for their guest/comment cards, three of the family members hand them back filled out asking for missionaries. Turns out that one of them that Sister Bradley taught, said that if he read the Book of Mormon and knew it to be true after praying to God, then He would be baptized of God's church!!!

Girls just wanna have funnn!

I love this gospel so much. I love not only sharing it, but having the opportunity every day to see the blessings and miracles that come from living it. I love feasting on the words of the scriptures. Fia ai: means "I'm hungry!" I know that as we are always hungry for the gospel and feasting on it, we will see the same miracles of God in our lives that are read in scriptures; especially The Book of Mormon. Love you all so much!!!

Alofa, 

Sister Moyes

P.s. This is the last week of the transfer. Next e-mail I'll report my final and last companion of my mission =/

FAITHFUL SERVANTS

This is our beautiful area

Family and Friends, Aloha!

I've tried really hard not to think about the fact that I go home in 8 weeks, but it has definitely been apparent in the many miraculous things happening (and the fact that I'm more tired than EVER). Our area is still going pretty slow in terms of baptizing, but things are definitely moving along. 





Miracle #1 

So there are more non-members in our area than in any other area of Laie. I think I've mentioned that before. Problem is, our area has a lot of rental vacation homes, so the people are always in and out. Well, Sister Bradley and I decided to go visit our Part-member list, and arrived at this blue house after trying a couple of other houses. There was a young guy from China in the drive way, so we decided to talk with him. He spoke very little English, but we were finally able to communicate the words, "missionaries...Mandarin speaking missionaries available ...Here's their number", while he gave us his number as well. We immediately called Sister Cheng and gave her the referral. She talked with him (in Mandarin) and he said he was interested in learning more and wants to go to church!!! SOOOO awesome!  We just laughed, because we were excited that maybe he lived at that house, and we would have a new investigator, but turns out he just works on the house for his job. BUT, that's alright, because it's all the same work!

Miracle #2

All the Sisters say that before you go home, you'll begin to see the fruits of your labors. I didn't understand that until now. Like last week, I received an amazing e-mail being informed that a woman that came on my tram will be getting baptized. Well, another e-mail came rolling in this week as well, from another woman.  I met her one day after showing the short 3 minute video that we show to visitors.  When it was finished, I saw a family walking out and I went to go speak with them.  But, as I was walking towards them, I walked right past this woman looking up at 'The Family: Proclamation to the World' display. The second I walked past her, the thoughts pierced into my mind and heart, "You need to talk with her." So I stopped and turned around and did. She had many questions that she said preachers have NEVER been able to answer for her. I asked her what some of those questions were, and of course I knew she needed to meet with the missionaries, so I told her that. Well, this was back in June, and I just now got a response from her saying: 

(I've edited some things for privacy purposes)

" Aloha Sister Moyes. I have been contacted by the Missionaries here at home and am learning and studying under the Mormon Faith.  I have found Mormonism represents a lot of what I feel a Church should not only be but, more importantly, what a church should be doing.  My questions are being answered and I am most impressed at the willingness of a Member to say "I don't know"  if he/she really doesn't instead of evading a question. Thank you for greeting and speaking with me at the Temple Visitors Center there in Oahu.  Thank you for placing me on a path I did not see and never would have considered (Mormonism) on my own.  But for you, I would be loved by our Heavenly Father but still adrift in confusion and growing in doubt about Faith and God..." 

I know this gospel is trueeee!

Miracle #3 

Just a typical day in the neighborhood : )

So last but not least. A couple of weeks ago, Sister Bradley and I were asked to teach the 17 and 18 year-olds Sunday School class. Guess what the topic is this month??? Yup, Marriage and Family. Haha. No, it wasn't bad. The sub-topic we focused on was how we can teach our friends about the importance of families and God's plan for his families. Anyway, it was supposed to be just the 17 and 18 year-olds, but turns out the 15/16 year-olds teacher could not make it; so it was combined class. In trying to teach the youth how to bring up families in a gospel related way we played a little game with them.

We ride up this hill every day

We put them into teams, and said a random word like Facebook, or Youtube, or Homework...words that are brought up a lot in their lives. Then first person to come up with a way to relate those topics to the gospel and families would get a point. It was SO fun to see those creative juices working. They did so well. Then, the last word, we decided to have something random: slippers. We said it, and one of the youth raised his hand. He gave this amazing answer of how we need to search, and find the slipper that is the right size, or search and find the TRUE gospel....so the miracle in this is: We invited them to share the gospel about families with their friends and they said, "Well, we did bring a non-member to church with us!"...pointing to the boy who had given the profound answer about the slippers. He was a non-member, searching for truth. He said he had met with missionaries before, but would meet with them again where he lives. AWESOME!! It was truly an inspired lesson. 

Sorry, this is so long.

Almost getting hit by the mailman

It is just so amazing to see the Lord's hand in EVERYTHING. I knowthis is God's church, and Jesus Christ is the head of it. I know that as we are His faithful servants we will be blessed. They say serving a mission is the best 18 months- 2 years of your life. I am truly seeing why. Even when we feel like we are doing everything to serve the Lord, we are blessed in return. Continue to serve others and I know you will feel the same joy. Love you all, have a charitable week!

Love, 
Sister Moyes

BEST MISSSION EVER!!!

ALoha my cousins!

I've definitely been staring at this screen for 2 minutes now, just trying to put into words how amazing this week was!!! There were so many little things that happened, so we'll start with that!

The Adamsons (VC Senior)

• Na'ili went to the temple and did baptisms!!!!!
• President and Sister Warner (our new mission President and wife) came to La'ie to be the speakers of a fireside that was held here at the Visitor Center! It was AMAZING! I already love them so much!

Our L3 ward now has SEVEN missionaries in the mission field!. . .

One of them being the beautiful Alohi Keys (the one in the pictures) that Sister Bradley and I have become super close with. Her mission covers El Salvador and Belize! It just opened up. And she left for the MTC yesterday!!! 

• We can now text : )
• I have the best mission!

Oh, it was just a week full of miracles:






Miracle #1 A&B

A. In our last visitor center training meeting (VCTM) they challenged us to plan lessons for the people who would come into the VC. At first I was a little hesitant towards this challenge, thinking: how do we plan for people we don't even know? Well, let me tell you something...Heavenly Father knows!! DUH! This was one of the coolest experiences of my mission in the Visitor Center.  Well, we got planning. As Sister Bradley and I sat there pondering and taking our thoughts and prayers to heaven to know more about these people, we both were able to visualize what these people looked like, what ages they were, EVERYTHING. It was as if I was looking back at a memory. At this moment I knew there was no denying that God knows each of us and loves His children.

Zone Pictures

One tour that I felt very strongly about planning for was a "with member" tour, meaning there is a member and a non-member present. I could see us taking this family through the "God's Plan" presentation and then inviting the non-member to baptism. I knew it was what we needed to do. We get on shift and the first people to walk in: A grandma and her grandson with his non-member girl friend. We took them through God's plan, bore our testimonies, taught about the importance of the gospel in our lives, and committed her to be baptized! She said yes! Oh, it was the best. There really was nothing like it. The same pattern happened with the other families we planned for. I KNOW that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is helping to bring this truth into His children's lives.

My new VC Bff, Sister Flores

B. So, this was yesterday, and we did the same type of planning for our shift. Sister Bradley said that she could see a girl from India who practices Hinduism with various piercings, and she had an older man with her, maybe her dad or uncle. Well, we were taking a family up around the temple and on our way down we see an Indian girl (so we thought) with ears pierced and nose pierced walking with an older man. I knew I had to say something. They were on their way up to the temple so I asked if they had been inside the VC yet. They admitted that they had not, and so I invited them to after they walked up to the temple, mentioning that the VC had pictures of the inside of the temple! They got really excited when I said that, and said they would.  After our tour we waited for them to come in, and they did! At first the girl came in with another girl of the same age.Turns out that they are from Fiji, practicing Hinduism; the older man being their brother-in-law. We did our tour as planned, and received two self-referrals from the two girls as the brother-in-law had been speaking with other sisters. Ahhh, this gospel is so true it's not even funny. I love it so much, and feel so blessed to share it with everyone.

Miracle #2 

Anthony received the Preisthood!! So Sister Bradley and I were walking down a street in our area, ready to get on our bikes to get to our dinner appointment. We were walking past Anthony's house, and it looked like there were a bunch of people outside, so I had hoped that his mom, who is a non-member would be outside. I had told Sister Bradley that I thought we should stop before heading to dinner, so we did. We walked up to the house as people were loading into cars. We asked if Anthony was there! Next thing we know he's hopping out of the car and has a smile on his face.

All of my Companions still in Laie

Okay, preface. . . the first time we met Anthony, you could tell that the last thing he wanted to do was a. come to church, b. meet with missionaries, c. even think about holding the priesthood, and d. be wearing a white shirt and tie. Well here we were talking with him, and he's talking to us as if we were best friends! It was so cool! He expressed that he was really nervous that he was going to be getting the Priesthood on Sunday!! Our amazing WML (Ward MissionLeader) said he was going to help him get the priesthood, but we didn't realized how soon!! Anthony talked about how he is realizing that it's going to be hard being the example, not only to his friends, but to his family, but that he was ready to accept the responsibility! Ahh, he's so amazing. So on Sunday, they ordained him as a deacon in his tucked in white shirt and tie, and he'll be passing the sacrament this Sunday!!!

Miracle #3 

There had been woman that had come on to my tram back in December. On the tram tour she filled out the guest card leaving behind her e-mail address. Well I had e-mailed her offering her a Finding Faith in Christ dvd, and she accepted. I had sent the DVD, but apparently she had not received it. I remember pondering whether I should go ahead and just send the missionaries to bring it. So I made the decision to just send the missionaries to her home. Well, just a couple weeks later I left for the island of Maui, and then serving in Honolulu, I was not back until the very end of April.

Me, my baby, my grandbaby, and my great-grandbaby
(Translation:  I trained Sister Jones, who trained Sister Kim.
who trained Sister Cheng)

Last night after the VC shift I had this strong desire to check our missionary e-mail. I immediately got changed and ran (literally, haha) to the computers to check what would be waiting. Lo and behold there was an e-mail labled "Sister Moyes from Laie Tram Tour."...it was her =) She was looking for the Sister Moyes that took her on the tram tour!!  She then continued to share the most amazing news!! She continued to inform me (in hopes that I would read it) that ever since I had sent the missionaries to come and teach her, she has been taking the lessons. She THEN let me know that she was going to be getting baptized on August 31st!!! AHHHHHHHHH, I love being a missionary. She finished the e-mail by thanking me for giving her that guest card and how it has forever changed her life. 

So many prayers were answered this week, it was incredible. Every day I am loving my mission, or I should say, the Lord's mission, more and more, and feel so blessed to see just how much God loves his children. I know that these miracles are a witness of God's love for His children. I know that as we pray to be God's hands in this work that He WILL give us opportunities to "hasten the work of salvation." We are all missionaries, each of us has an a area...and that's the world. We have the best mission ever!! Let's help God's children to know how much He loves them. I love you all so much, and I know Heavenly Father does, too. Have a miraculous week!

Love,

Sister Moyes

I'm jumping in!!! (jk)

P.S. Sorry this was so long!

PLEASE GOD

Family and Friends, Aloha!!! 

I love being a missionary. There really is nothing like it! For anyone who reads this who might be preparing for a mission or thinking about it, if the Lord says it is right, you will never EVER regret it. Well, this week has definitely been a challenging yet very rewarding week for so many reasons!! It is so interesting to see the power of Satan striving to destroy this work, but as always our faith in God will help us to overcome. I know that because our faith in God is strong; we saw many miracles this week!

Miracle #1 

When I was serving in the Laie 3rd Ward last July we were working with an LA family that I got SO close with. Well they are now starting to come back to church consistently, and it has been such a blessing to be able to be a part of that growth in their life!! For the past two weeks we have been teaching the family, specifically their son who was getting baptized! He is 8 years old and the cutest thing ever! He was baptized this Saturday, and we're so excited to continue to teach the family towards being sealed in the temple for all eternity!

Baptism with the family : )

Miracle #2 

Somehow I ended up with a 24 hour stomach flu this week, but I am so grateful for all that I learned having it. So I was on shift at the VC and kept telling Sister Bradley how weird I felt. I felt like I was in a daze and my body just felt really heavy. I felt perfectly fine, it was just a weird feeling. As the shift went on my body got weaker and weaker with my stomach beginning to feel uneasy. Sister Bradley told me to go lay down, as well as many other Sisters, but for "whatever" reason I felt strong, in a sense. It was weird, but I just knew that I would be okay to stay on shift. Well, the tram buses came, and there was hardly anyone on them, which never happens on the later tours. When I walked outside to see if anyone from the tram had not come in, I saw a young family of a husband and wife, with their little son and daughter (all non-members except for the  husband). I began talking with them and found out they did not come on the tram, but were actually from Honolulu. I told them I would love to take them on a temple grounds tour! Their daughter was so excited and decided we were going to be best friends =) When we walked up to the temple doors, the spirit was so strong. I felt so impressed to take them inside of the temple, after having explained the great peace and happiness we can feel inside. I had never done this before with anyone my whole mission, but that impression could not have been any stronger. The father stayed out with the little son, but I brought in the mother and daughter into the lobby. As we quietly entered in there was just an overwhelming sense of peace and love that brought us all to tears. After a couple of minutes we came back outside as she expressed that she had never felt like that before. I explained with my usual invitation that she could feel that way all the time, through baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. She said she wanted that. It was a bitter sweet moment when she said she didn't know about having missionaries over quite yet, probably overwhelmed from all that she just felt, but decided we would stay in contact. I know that people are being prepared to receive this gospel, and we cannot let anything get in the way of that; not even when we might feel weak. 

Miracle #3 

There are so many times on my mission I just sit back and smile because I can see all the little things in my life that have prepared me for my mission. Well, as many as you know, football in Hawaii is HUGE! They eat, drink, sleep football. Sister Bradley did not really grow up around sports, whereas when I was at BYU I made sure I was at every basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer game! I love sports! Well, this group of 19-year-olds come in to the Visitor Center, finding out that one of them is a non-member. I was really excited. They wanted to watch the movie "Finding Faith in Christ," so I played it for them. After it was over I went into the theatre to post-set and talk about their thoughts and feelings of the film. I started asking questions with no responses, then I bore my testimony. By the looks on their faces with their eyes looking every which way as I tried to explain the importance of faith in Jesus Christ, I could see I was "boring" them.

Bowling on P-day

Finally I just said, "Alright, do you all play sports?" They said yes. "Do you all play football?" They perked up, all eyes on me, and said yes with more enthusiasm. I said, "What is the purpose of football? They said that it was to get touchdowns, to score, to win!! I just smiled as I could see they wanted to know where this was going. I then explained that God has a plan for us. His plan for us is to win, to make it back to His presence one day. In order to make it to our goal, we must have a quarterback, or a linebacker, or a receiver, right? They agreed. Without them it's impossible. Without faith in Jesus Christ or repentance or baptism, it is impossible to make it back to Heavenly Father's presence. BUT, as we use the tools that we have been given, we can win, we can gain eternal life with our Heavenly Father. We were then able to continue on in teaching them, as well as the non-member who said that the missionaries could contact him. I love that the gospel truly is in everything we do! I feel grateful that I was able to help them understand the importance of God's plan for us in a way that they connected with. Just a really neat little miracle.

I am so grateful for this week. It has been such a great learning experience, and I feel that I am drawing closer to my Heavenly Father each and every day through doing all that I can. This gospel is true, and the only way we will know that is by living it. We MUST put ALL of our trust in God. He ALWAYS has our best interest at heart. ALWAYS. I cannot emphasize that enough. I know that when we are keeping the commandments and being exactly obedient, we will never feel disconnected from God. He is always there, but we must be living our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. I know that if you can say that you are constantly doing whatever it is you may be doing to please God, then you will always feel His presence. I can testify of that because I have experienced it, and there is no greater feeling. Continue to pray to know how you can please God and He will show you the way. Love you all so much! Have a great week full of missionary opportunities!

Love,

Sister Moyes

RIGHTEOUS DESIRES

AloHA Family and Friends!

This week has just flown by so fast. I still cannot even believe it! Seems like every day is getting faster and the work harder! Where to start? 
Well, Sister Bradley and I have been in a trio companionship the whole week, so that's been CRAZY! Sister Mckeever has been serving on the big island, but when she came back to serve in the VC she did not have a companion yet. She is going to be training a new missionary, but she doesn't get in until tonight = we have been covering five wards for a week! YAY! Haha, it's been fun, but we've definitely been all over the place. What can you expect on a transfer week, though, right? 
Alright, let's get to the fun stuff! MIRACLES!!!

Miracle #1 

Last transfer I mentioned how we were able to recreate a baptismal record for a 13-year-old boy in our ward. We'll call him Anthony. I think I mentioned that Anthony has been less-active ever since he has been baptized at the age of 8, so we have been praying to find ways that we can bring him back to church. Whenever Sister Bradley and I go over there to invite him to church he always politely rejects the invitation. We found out that there is a family (members) that he has become really close with that live across the street from him. The second we found that out we gave them a call to see what we could do. They too invite him to church, but for some reason he has not been coming. Well, our prayers had finally been answered. This Sunday Sister More walks up to us and tells us that Anthony came to church with them and planned to stay for all three meetings. We immediately went to go talk to him after Sacrament meeting, and there was just something different about his countenance; not to mention the white shirt and slacks he was wearing! We asked him how he was doing and how he had enjoyed sacrament meeting!....He responded by saying, "Well, I still don't think I'll do the whole tucking my shirt in thing, but I'm thinking about learning how to pass the sacrament!...even though it still freaks me out." We all just laughed together, Sister Bradley and I, full of joy, saw that his heart had been changed. We cannot wait for the day that we will be able to to see him holding the Priesthood and passing the sacred ordinance of the Sacrament!

Miracle #2 

After our VCTM (Visitor Center Training Neeting) on Monday morning we usually just head home and do our studies. Well, our area had just been given brand new bikes, so instead of going straight home, we had to go to the senior couple's pad to pick up the bikes. We walked up to the pad to get them, when we realized that we had no shorts or leggings to wear underneath our skirts to ride the bikes. We stopped by Sister Millett's pad who so kindly gave Sister Bradley some biker shorts, but that was all they had. We knocked on the next pad over and no one was home. Then we knock on the next one, where Sister Yoo and Sister Mark opened the door. I asked them if they had any shorts to spare with Sister Mark responding in a whisper of a voice, "...yes..I have some..." Her voice was GONE. I was shocked and asked Sister Yoo what had happened; she had gotten laryngitis. Then Sister Yoo excitedly asked us, "Ooh! Can you do the tram for us tonight!!?" We said of course, not knowing the miracles that would come from taking those trams. 

      

      Miracle #2a 

• When we get to the PCC we always stand by the entrance of the villages where a worker (usually the Sisters) takes the guest's tickets. We stand there taking the tickets while inviting the guests to ride the tram! Well, when we first got there one of the  PCC tour guides walks up to us handing us a Guest Card (the ones we give to people on the tram), and said that a family from one of his tours gave the card to him. He hold us that the family told him that one of the "tram tour guides". . . aka: Sisters, had given it to them, but they didn't have time to fill it out on the Tram . . . . . Yes, that tour guide was ME!   I was so sad the day I had taught this family, because I knew the chances of the guests actually filling out the Guest Card after the tour, and giving it to their PCC tour guide, was slim to none. Yet, there I was at the perfect place and time to be able to claim this Guest Card with the family that I had been able to teach The Book of Mormon to. .  . . and on the card they mentioned they wanted missionaries to teach them more about the Book of Mormon! I could not believe it! If Sister Bradley and I had not taken the tram shift for Sister Mark and Sister Yoo, I probably would have never seen that card. It would have been given to some other Sisters who had no idea where it came from. Miracle.

       Miracle #2b 

• The same day of being on the tram shift, while taking tickets, I was feeling especially filled with the spirit after getting that Guest Card back, so I made sure to ask everyone where they were from, and then making a point to invite them on to the tram. Usually, we mention it will be a 35 minute tour of driving past the University, the community of Laie, and then stopping at the Mormon temple grounds. "For whatever reason" ---when I was taking the tickets of this one couple the first thing I said after asking them where they were from was, "Well at the bottom of your ticket it mentions a tram tour that takes you to the Mormon temple, every 20 minutes on the hour, and we'd love for you to join us!" I almost slapped myself, because we try to make sure we don't scare people away too badly by only mentioning the temple, but it just came out. Then the wife says," Ooh, honey!! That's where I want to go!" I told them they should definitely come and ride whenever they wanted, never expecting to see them 15 minutes later hopping on our tram! I knew something was up. When we drove up the road that leads to the temple we mention that the temple is used for sacred ceremonies such as marriages, called a sealing ceremony.
  
  The second I mentioned the sealing in the temple, I saw the wife in the second row nudging her husband and saying something to him. All the guests were members, except the one couple, so when we got to the temple grounds we let them walk around as we stayed with this couple. We showed them the narration to the Christus statue and asked about their relationship with Jesus Christ. Sister Bradley and I received responses that we were not expecting. "Well, I was actually baptized into your all's church when I was eight and sealed to my family, but I really haven't been to church much since then." The husband then says, "Yeah, my parents just converted to being Mormon a little later in their lives, but yeah, I guess their Mormon now." If you can imagine, our jaws just dropped. The wife then shows us her CTR (stands for Choose the Right) ring that she still wore on her finger. It was so exciting! After testifying a little more about the gospel, the wife then asks if we could show them the picture of the sealing room. After explaining to the husband what occurs inside the sealing room, the wife says, "See ,Hun, that's what I want...to be married to you forever, not just til death do us part!" The spirit was so strong when he smiled and looked at her. At the end of the tour he self-referred and said that the missionaries could come and teach him! It was the best.

I definitely gained a testimony this week about living righteously. Sometimes we're not going to be given strong huge promptings telling us what to do. As we are doing everything we can to serve others and live the way that God would have us live, then our righteous actions will naturally lead us to seeing miracles. Continue to pray for those opportunities, and pray to know how you can align your will with God's, because I can testify that there is truly no greater joy. I love being a part of this gospel, being a servant and disciple of Christ brings such peace and blessings. Try it, and see if it does not bless your life. I love you all so much!! Have a great week.

Alofa,

Sister Moyes